A beachfront condo in Waikiki

By E. Clarke Reilly

Published: 2013.03.18 12:14 PM

When I first inquired about this one-bedroom condo at the Waikiki Shore that listed almost a month ago, it was so hot as a vacation rental, realtor Kimo Smigielski of Sandwich Isles Realty couldn’t even get into the unit to photograph it.

“We only had a window of three days when it was not booked to have showings and do the photo shoot,” says Smigielski. “This property is the only true beachfront condominium in Waikiki. It’s an extremely popular option for investors because of the high demand and high occupancy rates.”

The building, which is managed by Outrigger Hotels, is located next to Fort deRussy, so the 124-square-foot lanai doesn’t overlook any big high-rises, just greenery, a walking path and ocean views.

Smigielski went on to tell me the savings can be upwards of 30 percent more money in an owner’s pocket if they have their units managed by an outside vendor.

Recently renovated, the 743-square-foot, second-floor unit has an open floor plan and a wall of windows and sliding-glass doors that make the space airy and bright. For those hot and sticky days, new split air conditioning has been installed. Click here for details.

The maintenance fee, which includes gas (it’s rare to find a gas range in town!), water and sewer, is low: $350 a month. Also, attractive to potential renters, the condo has an in-unit stacked washer/dryer.

No parking is included with the unit, but if you’re planning to use it as a vacation rental, chances are your renters will be soaking up the sun on the beach rather than spending their time in a car.

About Our Writers

Honolulu Real Estate focuses on the Hawai‘i housing market, condos and homes for sale, Hawai‘i rentals and general news about real estate in Hawai‘i. It also includes stories on apartment living, home decor and profiles.

Melissa Chang graduated from the University of Hawai‘i with a degree in journalism. She has been blogging about food and travel since 2007. She works primarily in social media, so you can find her online @Melissa808 on Twitter and Instagram.

Jaymes Song is a real estate agent at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Kāhala. Jaymes is in the top 1.5 percent of Better Homes agents nationwide. He was voted “Best in Real Estate” in 2015 and 2014 by HONOLULU Magazine readers. Previously, Jaymes was at The Orange County Register, Honolulu Star-Bulletin and rose through the ranks to overseeing news and operations for AP in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Rim. Jaymes lives in the Portlock area and loves his real full-time job as a dad to two curious kids.